…from maternity to motherhood

Be informed and prepared for your baby’s birth

So if you’re expecting a baby, you have no doubt been excited throughout your pregnancy. As the labour looms ever-closer, perhaps that excitement is fading and other feelings are creeping in as the unknown of that big day rears its head.

For many first-time mums, friends and family members will fill their heads with negative aspects of the birthing experience and they will use words like ‘pain’, ‘trauma’ to talk about their births, as well as describe the menu of pain-relief options that they needed to ‘get through it’. All of this is extremely damaging to the mum-to-be.

Let’s ask ourselves a quick question. Why do all other animals cope so well with birth (without medical assistance) but us mere mortals just aren’t able to? Or can we? Is it just the mindset that we have conditioned ourselves to think that is the barrier to us being able to enjoy and celebrate birth as an exciting and empowering experience?

In recent years, women are seeking out hypnobirthing courses, as a full antenatal preparation class, which not only teaches them the physical side of what is happening to the body during labour, but also teaches them tools and techniques to manage labour more efficiently and calmly. They believe that there must be more to us and that we should be more aligned with our friends in the animal kingdom.

So what is hypnobirthing?

Hypnobirthing is a tried and tested method that prepares a woman in giving birth in a peaceful and natural way, often without the need for medical intervention. Women who hypnobirth learn special breathing techniques, relaxation, visualisation and meditative practice that help them stay relaxed in labour, and as a result tend to have an easier and shorter labour. They learn to trust in nature and trust in their bodies.

Why should you choose hypnobirthing for your baby’s birth?

Women who use hypnobirthing during labour found that hypnobirthing encourages the birth experience to be natural, calm and comfortable. It often allows the mother to feel more alert and in control, as well as giving them the tools to manage the intensity of labour. This often results in not needing the level of pain-relief that she had anticipated and in some cases they don’t need any at all.

Hypnobirthing classes also help teach the birthing partner to be actively involved and reinforces the important role that they have in the birth, both supporting mum and protecting their baby.

Used correctly, the hypnobirthing breathing, visualisation and relaxation techniques lessens the physical impact of childbirth, as the techniques encourage the mother to work with her body gently – this often results in shorter labours. All of this combined, potentially allows the baby to be born in a calm, gentle and drug-free atmosphere,

What to expect in a hypnobirthing class:

You will come away understanding how the body and mind work together; appreciating that the mind is much more powerful than we realise. You will also be taught:

Self-hypnosis – to help you to induce deep relaxation

Fear release methods – to allow you to be relaxed and confident for the birth

Positions for labour and birth – staying in an upright position can help to shorten the length of your labour

The ideal time to start classes is anytime after 20 weeks of pregnancy. This will allow you ample time to practise. If you’re already past this stage, don’t be put off. You can still benefit from classes in your last weeks of pregnancy as the techniques are simple to understand and easy to practice.

Magical Baby Moments is based in Romford, Essex and offers regular group courses or private classes to couples every month. To find out more visit www.magicalbabymoments.com or call Christine on 07764 680 215.